Culture

Question 1

what is culture?

Answer 1

things that are shared by society that mask it out as distinctive

Question 2

what is material and non-material culture?

Answer 2

material culture –> flags, monuments
non-material culture –> christianity, democracy

Question 3

what is cultural difference?

Answer 3

not everyone supports all of the culture they live in
-minority groups have their own culture
-subcultures differ from mainstream culture

Question 4

eval of culture (positive + negative)

Answer 4

gives us a sense of belonging = linking generations BUT this can create unhealthy pride –> chauvinism
can also create suspicion of foreigners –> xenophobia
-cultures can be oppressive + divisive = can expect certain things

Question 5

what is cultural relativism?

Answer 5

view that no culture is any better or any worse than any other culture

Question 6

key study - Margaret Mead (1928,1935)

Answer 6

travelled to Samoa + studied group of teenage girls
1928 - Coming of age in Samoa
found that –> teenage were sexually liberated, no anxiety or judgement about sex, far more happy + at ease than american teenagers
1935 - Sex and temperament in three primitive societies
Was done in New Guinea –> discovered different views to masculinity
Arapesh people: both males + females gentle + cooperative (stereotypically feminine)
Mundugumous people: both males + females violent + aggressive (stereotypically males)
Tchambuli: woman dominant and pratical males = emotional + focus on personal beauty opposite of masculine + feminine stereotypes in america

Question 7

what does Mead reveal?

Answer 7

reveals cultural differences between Pacific islanders + americans
–> supports cultural relativism - no culture is best or has all answers
research has been critisced by Freeman (1983) claims that Mead over exaggerated her picture of somalians and that there was lots of sexual violence
–> but could be that culture changed due to interaction with outside environments